Chapter Twenty-Four

The second Shannon opened the door, Luke sensed something was wrong. While she attempted a smile, her eyes smoldered with some unknown emotion. Her stiff posture suggested she was holding something tight inside. Anger?

He watched her closely as they walked to his car. Yes, most definitely anger. As he closed her door and walked around the bonnet he sent a veiled glare up to the lighted room above her flat. Bugger. I thought Thomas had lightened up a little. But it seems he can still be relied on to spoil things for his mother.

Luke shot a smile across at an unresponsive Shannon and started the car. So it might take me a little more effort, but we’re going to have a fantastic time, despite whatever torment that brat has given. And he’d better stand from under. Luke swore under his breath. Wait until I get hold of him.

Shannon looked fantastic. The emotions churning within her highlighted his appreciation of her beauty more than he could express. As in a penny-dreadful novel, her breasts drew his gaze as they heaved with each shuddering breath she took.

The deep red of her dress, clinging to all the right places, flashed x-rated visions through him—visions of him slowly stripping the red away to reveal hidden treasures beneath. Under his breath, Luke pledged to have her shuddering for a very different reason before the night was over.

“The resort? Or would you rather we head into town?”

It took her a disorientated moment before responding. “Ah, maybe the resort. It’s silly to head into Invercargill just for a meal.”

Her less-than-subtle insinuation was not lost on Luke. He grimaced. Damn. She doesn’t expect the evening to be anything more, anything special, anything exciting.

This was not the same woman he’d ushered into her flat this afternoon. He’d sensed her barely-contained excitement mixed with as much nervousness as he himself had felt. But now, that excitement was gone and been replaced with sizzling anger.

As his fingers tightened on the steering wheel, he imagined they were around Thomas’s scrawny neck. “I’ll talk to him.”

Shannon’s head swung around. “What?”

Irritation flared through Luke. “I’ll have a talk with Thomas.” As he checked for traffic at the compulsory stop connecting their road to the main thoroughfare he paused to gauge her reaction. “He has done or said something to upset you, hasn’t he?”

Shannon’s bottom lip took a beating from her teeth before she turned her face aside.

“I don’t need help dealing with my son, thank you.”

Luke chose the wise option and kept his mouth shut tight on the words hankering to escape. The little twerp needs a damn good clip around the ear, and I’m just the man to do it.

Instead he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder for a moment, signaling his solidarity. He was rewarded with a little movement of her lips. It hardly constituted a smile, but neither was it a snarl.

Stopping in the resort car park Luke leaned over and clasped her chin. “Forget whatever he said. We’re going to enjoy ourselves.” His swift, but determined, kiss implied he wasn’t about to let anything ruin this plan, least of all a snotty-nosed kid.

Luke employed every trick he’d ever learned to draw Shannon out. He teased, he questioned, he argued. He introduced topics as wide and varied as favorite holiday destinations, current political divisions, and global warming. By the time they’d sampled their dessert Shannon appeared to have forgotten whatever had upset her earlier.

Luke leaned back in his chair and enjoyed the colored lights from the nearby dance floor bouncing off her hair as she devoured a piece of cheesecake with obvious delight.

“What?” She caught his smile. “So I have a sweet tooth. What’s wrong with that?”

Nothing, nothing at all. Luke took a steadying breath and shifted in his seat as she slowly, but unconsciously, licked the remnants from her fingers. Oh boy!

“Luke? Shannon? What a lovely surprise?” Jase and Debra appeared arm in arm beside their table.

Never had Luke been more relieved to have someone interrupt.

“You should have phoned and had dinner with us,” Jase added.

“I doubt they’d have wanted that, Jase.” Debra’s nudge had her husband’s gaze flicking from Luke to Shannon back to Luke.

Luke allowed his eyebrow to rise in response to Jase’s non-verbal question. Shannon’s face became a delightful shade of pink as she hastily drew out a chair and invited Debra to sit.

“I didn’t see you when we arrived.” Luke attempted nonchalance, but he doubted he carried it off.

Jase settled down opposite Shannon. “We usually eat in our apartment. It’s easier, and the staff doesn’t feel we’re checking on them all the time.”

His fingers began tapping the tabletop. “We come down when there’s a live band, though.”

Luke envied the smile he flashed across at his wife. Jase was so sure of his love being returned.

Luke glanced at Shannon, wondering if she noticed the seventh heaven the couple appeared to inhabit.

“We love to dance.” Jase grabbed Debra’s hand. “In fact, we’re off now. Order us some coffee and we’ll be back to share it with you.” His words were thrown over his shoulder as they headed for the dance floor.

Both Luke and Shannon watched, surprised and then entranced as the other couple set the floor alight with a sort of sexual fantasy dance.

Watching them only enhanced Luke’s physical discomfort and he soon turned aside. “Do you dance?” He held his breath, because he had two left feet.

Thankfully, Shannon laughed. “Not like that. Hell, I struggle to keep to the rhythm.” She paused, looking pensive.

He covered her hand. “What are you thinking?”

She gave a self-conscious laugh. “I was trying to remember how long it’s been since I danced. Years and years, I think. Definitely before Thomas was born.”

Luke forgot about his lack of dancing prowess, his two left feet, and his disinterest in the whole idea of dancing. He rose, drawing Shannon up, too. “Then it’s time to try again.”

As he led them onto the floor and drew her into his arms, he whispered into her ear. “If you’re expecting Jase’s fancy footwork, you’re in for a disappointment. I’m just looking for an excuse to hold you in my arms.”

A little shiver ran through her as her arms slid up to his shoulders. Her response as Debra and Jase sailed past, with a grin and a wave, caused his arms to tighten. “If you’re expecting a partner with Debra’s expertise, you’re in for a disappointment, too.”

“I think we can handle these disappointments, don’t you?”

Shannon nudged one of his dreads aside with her nose and snuggled her face closer to his neck. Excitement rushed through him right down to his toes when she nodded.

He bent his head and buried his face against her hair. He breathed in the perfume and held her even closer, their feet barely moving as everything ceased to exist around them.

Did her lips touch my neck? He couldn’t be sure but his blood boiled. His hands slipped tantalizing low down her back, and his body responded to the touch of her from hip to hip and breast against chest. He lost all sense of time. It was just him and her, together, their bodies melting against one another.

Luke’s hands tightened and he sensed her response as her arms slipped up around his neck. Shannon had forgotten all about Thomas and her earlier anger.

He sighed into her hair. All that mattered now was this moment in time as they swayed to the music. His mind leapt ahead to the moments yet to come before this night ended. She must be aware of his physical response to their closeness. And yet she isn’t easing away. In fact she’s snuggling closer.

Luke’s brain took off at warp speed. Booking a room at the resort isn’t the most discreet option. Perhaps we can whizz into Invercargill for a few hours?

Luke wasn’t aware of the stopped music until they were the only couple still on the floor. Looking toward the band area, he saw the musicians had already left to have a break.

“I guess we should sit down.”

Even in the subdued lighting, the color flooding into Shannon’s cheeks probably matched his own as they scurried toward their table. Debra and Jase were seated there and already sipping coffees.

Jase leaned back in his chair with a smirk twitching at his lips. “I thought you were never going to join us. The music stopped about five minutes ago.”

A rattling growl was all Luke could manage as he sat. Without Shannon in his arms he was in agony. His plans for the evening clamored for release and his brain focused on how he could ensure Shannon ended the night naked in his arms.

He glanced at her, hoping to see the same desire blazing from her eyes, but she kept her face slightly averted. She appeared unwilling or incapable of speech. He hoped it was the latter, hoped she was as blown away by their closeness on the dance floor as he had been.

“How are the preparations for the mud run going?”

Debra’s taking pity on us, bless her heart. Luke shot a relieved glance Debra’s way. “Good,” he replied. “I think we’re ready.” He looked at the still rosy-cheeked Shannon, “Aren’t we?”

“Just a couple more things to tidy up.”

“We have over sixty people registered. According to organizers at other runs, there’s usually a few more turn up on the day.”

Jase rubbed his hands together. “What with the advertising you’ve been running for an opening day, as well, I reckon we could end up with a decent crowd.”

Discussion about the upcoming day continued.

“Are the bookings up at the resort?”

Jase smiled. “Not noticeably yet, but I’m not worried. We’re prepared for those who decide they don’t want to drive home afterward. There’ll be others who want to come back here again on Sunday and make a weekend of it, too. This will be a successful weekend for the resort, and the town. Don’t worry.”

“I hope so. If I’ve let you talk me into—”

“I didn’t talk you into anything,” Jase quipped back. “You were so keen to show off this park of yours, Luke, you’d have agreed to anything.”

“You’re blowing smoke, hotshot.” Luke snorted as the two women looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and shared a smile.

Before their discussion turned into a testosterone trial, Debra pleaded to be taken back onto the dance floor.

****

Shannon floated from the restaurant with Luke’s arm around her shoulders. Their evening had ended spending a couple of delightful hours with Jase and Debra. Shannon enjoyed the other woman’s company and believed the evening signaled the beginnings of a friendship.

She had more difficulty now aligning Debra being a high-powered businesswoman than when they’d first met. There’s nothing hard or cut-throat about her. If Debra had been momentarily surprised by Shannon’s spontaneous hug as they said goodnight in the hotel foyer, she had returned it with a huge smile.

“Thank you, Luke. It’s been a lovely evening.”

Luke closed the car door a little harder than necessary. “I’d have rather kept you to myself.”

Shannon’s eyes bulged as she swung to face him. “Haven’t you enjoyed yourself? I—”

“I’d planned an intimate dinner, just the two of us.” His smile took any aggravation from his words. “I didn’t need that big oaf to come along and spoil it.”

Shannon’s heart raced a little faster as Luke cupped her cheek. “I could come up with more ideas now we’ve ditched those two.” His wriggling eyebrows kept the tension light, but Shannon was in no doubt all he needed was a nod from her. She swallowed. Am I ready for something more from Luke?

A shiver ran through her as she imagined the outcome. Heat burned through her as the picture became clearer, a vivid color picture of her and Luke making love. The breath caught in her throat, her eyes closed and she hugged herself tight.

“Shannon?”

She opened her eyes and the image disappeared. She escaped his regard by turning her face aside. I can’t. We can’t. It would ruin everything. Making love would ruin everything.

She sucked in a shuddery breath. “I’ve had a wonderful evening, Luke, but it’s time to go home now.”

He kept looking at her, but she couldn’t turn her head. If I look at him, common sense will desert me. I know it will.

Luke gripped her shoulder for a moment and then the car burst into life. “Home it is, my lady,” he quipped.

Shannon’s head swung around. Luke caught her look as he reversed out of the car park and sent the most gorgeous smile her way. Shannon bit her lip. What a cool guy. He’s not giving any sign of disappointment, not making me feel pressured or guilty…

He took her hand, drawing it across until it lay on his thigh. He held it there, caressing his thumb across her knuckles all the way home.

Not a word was spoken until they exited the car and had walked to Shannon’s door.

“You’re right. We had a terrific time and we’ll do it again soon.” Luke clasped her shoulders and allowed his lips to linger against hers for just a second.

He left her standing there feeling somewhat deflated. She touched her lips, unable to taste anything from his kiss. She grimaced and opened her door, contrarily wishing he had given her more than a whisper-kiss goodnight.